(*) In making this policy, we follow the rather well known precedent of Judaism, which was mentioned earlier. At most, there is a group of men, the cohanim, who exercise a few token ritual duties, such as the redemption of the firstborn, but in no way exercise the duties of the now lost Temple in Jerusalem.

We must confess some amusement at the report of a self-appointed Pagan High Priest who expressed great indignation at the rumor that someone had associated himself with his shrine without prior approval, and did not see the ironic nature of his protest. We would ask him if he considered himself to be of greater dignity than his own deity, considering the office he has claimed.

(1) The name is that of the man who drove the royal family of the Tarquins from Rome, leading to the birth of the Republic, bringing Rome several centuries of relative freedom. While we give this award in a spirit of self-mockery, given the relative unimportance of our group, our respect for the principles of equality and self-restraint it represents, are quite serious.

(2) This, from our theological point of view is prefectly reasonable, as, in the terms of our discussion of sexual morality, we distinguish between the self "in the moment", and the true self that we are, at most, in the process of becoming. It is the latter, for the gods, that we revere. (One might note, that the Greeks themselves drew a distinction between the beneficient and malevolent forms of the gods, seeking to banish the latter). The intense feeling that goes into the cursing could serve to awaken the god's true self, or some form close to it. As an exercise read the book of Job, and then later, perhaps, read it again. Sometimes, what we see, is what we're told to expect, rather than that which is actually there.

Note : for a reference to the twin aspects of the gods, see Harrison, Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion.

(3) What we find especially amusing are the 50 year olds who became pagan one or two years ago, who expect 20 year old famtrads (those raised pagan) to accept them as community elders. Sorry, Moonblossom, it doesn't work that way. One begins a new field of study as a beginner, regardless of one's age, like it or not. To the extent that time counts at all, what matters is years in the field, not the total number of years one has been breathing.

(These notes are part of "Breaking Away", an article on the Almond Jar).